Martin Shkreli is on trial for looting his companies, so he could pay back stiffed investors from his two failed hedge funds, prosecutors say. (Richard Drew/AP)

Martin Shkreli knows the power of positive thinking, according to a tart email exchange between him and his lawyer.

"You are a negative nancy-d--k and I always think the sun is shining," Shkreli allegedly told Evan Greebel in a December 2011 email that was revealed Monday in Brooklyn Federal Court.

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"im your handy umbrella to make sure any rain does not hit you," Greebel wrote back, according to the email.

The raindrops ended up falling on both their heads. Shkreli, the so-called Pharma Bro, was convicted on three of eight charges in his securities fraud trial over the summer and Greebel's conspiracy trial is getting underway.

Brooklyn federal prosecutors claim Greebel worked closely with Shkreli to engineer the looting of Shkreli's young pharmaceutical company. The underhanded work was done so Shkreli could pay back stiffed investors from his two failed hedge funds, prosecutors say.

Greebel, 44, says he's innocent. His lawyers insist the pair were not close and Shkreli, 34, duped Greebel on his dealings, just as the Pharma Bro did with his investors.

In the emails at issue, Greebel asked for Shkreli's take on an email from someone else.

That's when Shkreli hit him with the obscene zinger, and Greebel said he had the Pharma Bro covered.

"I like to think of you more as my most senior advisor and counselor who represents me in important meetings regarding my business affairs," Shkreli said.

The world first got a glimpse of Shkreli's ability to troll Greebel over the summer.

On one occasion, Shkreli wrote to Greebel that "you embarrass me." Another time Shkreli told him "I'm really starting to get the feeling you're inept."

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During opening arguments Friday, Greebel's lawyer, Reed Brodsky, worked hard to put daylight between Shkreli and Greebel. For example, he told jurors they'd see Shkreli being "nasty and rude," while Greebel kept it strictly professional.

"He wasn't going to be baited to act like a child," Brodsky said.

Greebel is facing two charges. In August, Shkreli's jury acquitted him on one of the same charges and found him guilty of the other.